Process and machine for making bricks.



E. H'. RODGERS. PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BRICKS. APPLlcAloN msu AuG.2. 1915.

1,157,421. Patented 001.19, 1915.

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A TTR/VEYS E. H. RODGERS.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2. I9I5.

l Patented 0ct.19,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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E. II. IIOIIGERS.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.2. I9I5.

1,157,421 I Patented 0@I.19,1915.

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` A TTORNEY8 vtnvrrnn STATES Nrrrrma'r onirica.

EDWARD H. RODGERS, 0F 1511"..y PASO, TEXAS.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR'MAKING Barons.

Specification of Letters Patent. y Patented Oct. 19, 1915,

Application filed August 2, 1915.- Serial No. 43,148.

To all whom t may concern.' i

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. Roncnns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes and Machines for Making Bricks, of which the following is a specification..

This invention relates to an lmprovement in brick machines, andv more particularly' to an improved means whereby the4 clay ribbon may be corrugated or channeled and subsequently treated in producing -bricks having a textile finish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brick machine having a die equipped with a tubular liner plate through which the clay is expressed and which is provided with serrations or teeth along lits delivery edge for lining the clay ribbon, the die being further provided with a cutting element in the nature of a wire adapted to separate the ridges' or ribs formed by the liner from the body of the clay ribbon, in order that these ridges may be spread upon the surface of the ribbon in such manner as -to adhere to the same.

manner that when slight pressure is exertedl on the face of the clayribbon through the medium of a roller or other suitable means, the particles or segments are pressed into the bodv of the ribbon sufliciently to make them adhere firmly thereto, thus producing a texture or tapestry effect on the surface of the bricks. *A

AnotherV object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class described including a tubular liner plate or mold carried by the die and equipped with the channeling means so that the ridges or This reribs are formed substantially simultaneously with the formation of the column of clay or clay ribbon, whereby a regular and uniform texture will be ultimately attained.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism of the class described which will be extremely simple, durable, efficient in operation, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination, arrangement, and construc- Vtion of parts hereinafter more fully de scribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which'like characters of reference indicate like .parts throughout the several gures, of which- Figure 1 represents a view in and elevation of the die of a brick machine, equipped with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse sectional view taken therethrough. Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary View in perspective of a portion of the liner plate. Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse sectional view taken.

through the liner plate. 'Figs 5, 6, and 7 represent edge elevational views of the liner plate looking toward the teeth or plows provided thereon, and showing-different arrangements of said teeth or plows. Fig. 8 represents a plan View of a `fragment of modified form of liner plate. Fig. 9 represents an edge view thereof. Figs. 10 and 11 represent fragmentary views of different types of brick produced by the improved device. Fig. 12 represents -a fragmentary view in perspective of a tapestry or textile brick produced in accordance with my invention. Fig. 13v represents a view in section taken through a drydie showing a method of attachment of the liner thereto. Fig. 14: represents a front -elevational view 'of the same. AFig. 15 represents a view similar to Fig. 13, showing a dierent method of attachment of the liner to .a dry die, and Fig. 16 represents a front elevational view of Fig. 15.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a steam lubricated die is indicated at 5. Through this die the clay is adapted to be forced or expressed by the screw or auger of the brick machine not shown), in forming the clay ribbon. The die is provided with a lining in the nature of a plurality of telescoping tubular plates 6. The rear edges of these tubular plates 6 are bent outwardly as at 7, and between the adjacentA outwardly bent edges of the telescoping members are vdisposed rectangular'frames 8 by means of which these tubular members n against the die, atithve'in'ner end thereof. v

i The lining lterr'ninates at its outer end or adjacent the delivery endof the die inthe tubular substantially rectangular liner,` plate l1. `rlhe latter at its inner end, similarly to plates 6, is provided with an'outwardly extending flange yengaged between a pair of the frames 8 in the manner already set forth. This liner plate maybe either 'in the 'form of a plurality of stripsy each form-l ing one side lofthe plate, or maybe made in a single piece asdesired. v

lhe 'outer v,or delivery vedge of the'liner plate or'mold is slightly inturned as shown at 13 'This deliver'y'edgeis provided 'or .formed info @plurality af .teethgor plows .14. The teeth preferably extend or project somewhat beyond theinner surface .or yface ofthe body of the liner plate .or ,mold `in order to contact with the lclay ribbon as the latter isdelivered.

The yplows or teeth 14 are 'formed by transversely slitting the delivery edge of the liner plate at equally spaced intervals and by thentwisting or turning the prongs or tongues thus defined into proper angular relation with each other and with the plane of the adjacent portion of the liner plate'. The various arrangements illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show how the teeth may be set at various angles andmay be made of various lengths, in order that different designs and textures of brick may be obtained.

'In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modified form of liner plate. It consists in providing the vplate nearv its outer edge with rows of metallic points as indicated at 15. The rows of points are set in staggered relation preferably and they extend inwardly in such inanner as to engage against and suitably channel or mark the surfaces of the clay ribbon as they latter emerges from the die. length and arrangement of the points or pins l5 'may of course be varied in order to grofliuce different textures orfimshes in the ric As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the die is provided with a cutting element in the nature of va wire 16 which is stretched across l the delivery opening of the die`at the top "or inner edges carried -by the uppenportion The emerges from the die it comes in contact with the pointsor plows 14 simultaneously 4with its formation into the desired shape. Thus, as theribbon leaves the die, it comes out in a perfect andregular shape thereby resulting in all of the vbricks having a uniform scratch and texture.- vIn formingthe textile finished brick, the cutting. element or wire 16 is utilized in severing or cutting the ribs or ridges formed on the upper" surface of the clay ribbon from the body'of the ribbon, thereby loosening the furrowed surface and Adisarranging thestraight lines of the ribs or furrows and more or less evenly shifting and distributing them over the surface of the clay ribbon to produce an lirregular textile effect. After the ribbon has been thus treated, suitable pressure is applied upon the upper surface of the column or clay-ribbon throughthe rmediumv of a roller or other device (not shown), in order to sufficiently press or mat the severed material against the body of the `cl ay ribbon in order to make it adhere firmly thereto. The clay ribbon is subsequently cut into sections to form the bricks in any ordinary manner. *A brick produced lov this process'i's illustrated in Fig. 12.

The result of'this process is that an at-y tractive tapestry or textile appearance or linish-is provided and of a more or less uniform character, so that when a inished Wall made of bricks treated by Athis process is viewed, an 'even and ruglike effect will be noticed.

By dispensing with the use of lthe cutting element or wire 1G, and by not rolling or pressing the surface of the clay ribbon, various effects such as those indicated in Figs. 1() and 11 may be produced.` When the wire is not used, the', surfaces of the brick Will be corrugated or channeled as show'n, and to a greater' or less extent, depending upon whether the teeth or plows are set to cut 4deeply into the surfaces ofthe ribbon or t0 make shallow cut'sftherein. The effect as indicated in- Fig. 10, is obtained by setting the teeth of the liner to make a comparatively deep corrugation or 1cut in' the surface of the clay ribbon, while the effect indicated in Fig. 11 is produced by setting'the teeth to make shallow grooves or furrows therein. f A

By having the liner plate provided on 'all four sides With the teeth -or plows, 'it's Vtextured or finished. Great varieties of designs and finish maybe obtained by setting the plows or teeth of the liner plate at different angles and depths.

Two methods of applying the liner platev to a dry die are indicated in Figs. 13-14 and 15-16 respectively. i

Referring to Fig. 13 it will be seen that the liner plate 11 is arranged on the inside of the die near the outer end of the latter and is disposed in a rabbet 17 cut in the inner wa-lls of the die. The outer inturned delivery edge 13 of the liner having the teeth or plows 14 provided thereon occurs Substantially iiush with the outer end of the die. ,The liner plate lnay be formed of a single tubular member, or if desirable and convenient, may be`fornied of a plurality'pf j separate members, each one*y offwhicli is arranged against one'of'the inner walls of the die. Furthermore, fone or more sides of the liner if desired maybe devoid ofthe teeth or plows. with the die may-'take the form of-boltsflS having their heads counter-sunk inithe-liner and extending through openings provided in `the walls of the die whereby to receive nuts 19 vat their outer'fends for detachably securing the li'nerieplate in place.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 15 and 16 contemplates-the positioning of the liner.

' which in this instance is preferably formed of separate pieces, each of which forms a side of the liner, on the outer end of the die with the piowsor teeth 14 projecting laterally within 'the' opening defined between the walls ofthe die. The liner is retained in position vthrough the medium of screws or boltsV Q0 extending through openings 21 elongated transversely of the seglnents or sections composing the liner, and. turning into threaded Sockets in the end `'of the die. Overlying each of the segments is a retaining plate 22 through openings in which bolts 20 also extend. `In this embodiment variations in the depth of the channels or grooves cut in the clay ribbon are attained by`V adjustingthe segments forming the liner inwardly or outwardly with respect to the opening through the die. The segments are retained in position by .tightening the bolts or screws 20 after the proper adjustment of the segments has been attained.

In the 'illustration of this lmethod of attaching the liner, one of the segments forming a side of the ,liner comprises a spacer plate 23, of a thickness equal to the thickness of the remaining segments of the liner, and which is provided with the elongated openings through which bolts 2O extend.

Means' for 1 connecting` the lisier This plate has a plain inner edge so that but three sides of the ribbon will be channeled as it emerges from the brick machine.

The cutting wire may be/used/in connection with the liner in either 'or both -(f the methods of attachment to a dry die shown in the drawings,

It will be understood that in practice,

ybination and arrangement of parts thereof as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims I claim l. A brick machine including a die having a tubular liner plate having a delivery edge disposed adjacent the delivery end of theldie, said delivery edge being-,inturned"and lprovided with a plurality of teeth extend` ing in angular relation with the adjacent surface of the liner plate, the opposite edge @ofthe-Yl liner plate being provided with an outwardly turned flange adapted to be'en- 'ga'ged by means for maintaining the liner plate within the die.

Q. A brick machine including a die having a liner plate disposed therein, said liner plate being provided with an inturned delivery edge' disposed adjacent the delivery end of the die. said delivery edge being transversely slltted to form tongues, said tongues being twisted into angular relation with the plane of the adjacent portion of the liner plate in order to provide teeth, substantially as described.

3.- A brick machine including a die having a tubular liner plate having a delivery edge disposed adjacenttlie delivery end of the dic and provided with teeth projecting beyond the inner surface of the body of saidliner plate, substantially as set forth.

l. brick machine including a die having a liner plate provided with a delivery edge having` teeth projecting beyond the inner surface of the body'of said liner plate.

A brick machine including a die having a tubulailiner plate whose delivery edge is inturned and toothed, substantially as de scribed.

(i. A brick machine including a liner plate whose delivery edge is inturned and 'formed into teeth, substantially as set forth.

7. A liner plate for brick machines, substantially as described, having its delivery edge provided with teeth as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a brick machinethe combination of a die having a liner plate provided with a delivery edge having teeth projecting bevliner plate, and a cutting element carried by the die beyondthe liner plate and substantially in alinementwith, the inner edges of the vteeth arranged on one side of said liner plate.

9. In a brick machine, the combination of a die having a liner plate`v provided with a delivery edge adjacent the delivery end of the die and having inwardly projecting teeth formed on said delivery edge, and a wire -fiXedly disposed with relation to the liner plate and arranged substantially in alinement with the inner edges of the teeth occurring along one side of said liner plate.

10.'In a device of the class described, the combination of a liner plate having an in.- turned delivery edge provided with a pluralityFof teeth, and a wire arranged relatively to vsaid liner plate and along one edge thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

11.111 a device of the class described, the combination ofva liner plate adapted to form afclay ribbon, and tochannel the faces of said ribbon, of a cutting element adapted to sephrate the ridgesl formed between the channelsfrom the body lportion of the -ribbon,.substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a liner plate hav vingan inturned edge provided with teeth adapted to form ridges in a column of clay, and a cutting element adapted to separate the ridges from the column, substantially as set forth.

Copies of -this patent may-be obtained for 13. A device of the class described, including a die having a liner plate disposed adjacent its delivery end, said liner plate being provided with a plurality of teeth.

14. A brick substantiallyas described having-corrugations provided on a face and having the surfaces between the corrugations severed from the body of the brick and distributed thereover, substantially asdescribed.

15. The herein described process of making brick which consists in forcingthe same through a hner plate, groovmg the brick as it is delivered from thev liner plate, cutting arating ,the-surfaces between the grooves from the body of the brick and at the same time 'spreading said surfaces over said body and subsequently pressing the surfaces into engagement with the bodyf EDWARD vH. RoDGERs.

Witnesses VM. S. ALKIRE, A. V. SMITH.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. p Washington, D. CJ 

